When I found the Coco Bag tutorial by ChrisW Designs, I was excited. Here was one opportunity to learn 3 new techniques: rivets, grommets, and corded handles. I had just enough faux leather left over from sewing the Debbie Shore Faux Leather Handbag to make this project. The PDF tutorial for this free project is …
Faux Leather Handbag Review
When I found the “Faux Leather Handbag” tutorial by Debbie Shore, I was intrigued. I hadn’t sewn faux leather and wanted to try it. Image my surprise when my I found a piece of faux leather in the remnant bin at my local fabric store. I already had a remnant of floral canvas and some …
Sweet Bedside Caddy Review
I don’t have a beside table in my 500 square foot apartment. Maybe you don’t have a beside table either. Or maybe it’s full or just out of reach. This sewing project solves many of those problems: a bedside caddy that slips between your mattress and box-spring. I found the Sweet Beside Caddy tutorial on …
Buttercup Bag
Buttercup Bag pattern review Periodically I browse the internet for new patterns to sew and review. The Buttercup Bag by Rae Hoekstra has been in my “to do” pile because it’s just so darn cute. When you sign up for Rae’s newsletter you’ll received a download link for this pattern: Buttercup Bag Note this pattern …
Sunny Glasses Case
Sunny Glasses Case Review In 2015 I purchased a pair of sunglasses from a drug store. They didn’t have a case so I searched the internet for free patterns and tutorials for making my own glasses case. The tutorial that I liked the best was the “Sunny Glasses Case” by Sheri at Thread Riding Hood. …
Sleeping Quilt
This is pattern review 4 (sleeping quilt) of my 4 part series on diy backpacking gear. You can read parts 1 (Jones Tent 2), 2 (Alpine Rucksack) and 3 (GVP pack) here. I began replacing my traditional weight backpacking gear with light and ultralight backpacking gear in 2006. I read several books on the topics …
GVP Pack
GVP Ultralight Pack Hiking and backpacking season is here so I’ve decided to do a series of pattern reviews on do-it-yourself backpacking gear. This is post 3 of 4. You can read the other parts of the series here: Jones Tent2, Alpine Rucksack, Sleeping Quilt. A co-worker and I went backpacking in the summer of …
Alpine Rucksack
Hiking and backpacking season is here so I’ve decided to do a series of pattern reviews on do-it-yourself backpacking gear. This is part 2 and you can read part 1 (Jones Tent2), part 3 (GVP Pack) and part 4 (Sleeping Quilt) here. I decided to investigate light and ultralight backpacking gear in 2006. I read …
Jones Tent 2
Hiking and backpacking season is here so I’ve decided to do a series of reviews on do-it-yourself backpacking gear. This is part 1 (Jones Tent 2). You can read parts 2 (Alpine Rucksack), 3 (GVP pack) and 4 (sleeping quilt) here. A co-worker and I went backpacking in the summer of 2006. Despite having trained …
Travel Jewelry Case2
In the fall of 2016, several friends and family members were making travel plans for 2017. I decided that travel themed gifts would hit the spot for Christmas. Travel trays and matching travel jewelry cases were the most appealing to me. I scoured the internet for free tutorials and found two that I really wanted …